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Illinois Basketball: Projected 2020-21 Illini lineup if seniors get an extra year

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 08: Kofi Cockburn #21 and Andres Feliz #10 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrate during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at State Farm Center on March 8, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 08: Kofi Cockburn #21 and Andres Feliz #10 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrate during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at State Farm Center on March 8, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – MARCH 08: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts after a three point basket during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at State Farm Center on March 8, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – MARCH 08: Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts after a three point basket during the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at State Farm Center on March 8, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

No. 1 Guard

Starter: Trent Frazier

If the current seniors get another year of eligibility, things could get really interesting for the Illinois basketball team. Trent Frazier would already be coming back, and I believe he would be slotted as the starting No. 1 guard again.

Frazier has struggled this season with his shooting. There was a 10-game stretch in there where he was shooting worse than 26-percent from the field. But his defense has improved tremendously, and he can distribute the ball.

Backup: Andre Curbelo

I don’t think Frazier would get a ton of minutes, though. Illinois has superstar guard, Andre Curbelo, coming into the program. He is one of the best guards in the nation and is someone who can make an immediate impact on this team.

Curbelo is a 6-foot, 170-pound guard from Long Island Lutheran High School and is from Puerto Rico. He is rated as a four-star recruit who is the No. 55 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 7 point guard in the nation. He is also the No. 2 player coming out of Puerto Rico.

I could see Brad Underwood starting Frazier to begin the season and having him and Curbelo be in an almost equal timeshare. It wouldn’t shock me to see Curbelo eventually take over the starting duties, though. But I believe both of these players will see a lot of minutes.

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